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One of our most important areas of focus in terms of sustainability are non-toxic and risk-appropriate fire protection measures. As a manufacturer of fire extinguishers, we are actively working on phasing out harmful substances from our products with a clear focus on eliminating PFAS substances, which have long been used as additives in fire fighting foams.

What is PFAS and what are the problems? PFAS is a group of approximately 5,000 extremely effective substances that have long had a prominent position in fire extinguishing foams to achieve a high fire protection rating. However, it is now known that most of these substances are associated with considerable environmental and health risks. PFAS substances are highly persistent in the environment, and they are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” exactly due to this.

What you should do It is important to note that you as the owner of – and potentially the intentional user of – fire extinguishers containing PFAS is ultimately responsible for compliance with current and future EU regulations.

Current and future regulations of PFAS Over the past years, the EU regulations applying to PFAS substances have become much stricter, and new restrictions and prohibitions have recently been introduced with more still to come. In conclusion, the direction and intentions of this cooperative EU effort are clear: all PFAS substances will be regulated through numerous prohibitions within the next few years, but it is difficult to clearly say when the respective bans will come into effect. With this in mind, Presto has chosen to turn a page and phase out PFAS substances instead of waiting for legislation to come into effect.

We offer non-toxic options – water outperforms foam Today, we have numerous eco-adapted alternatives, free from PFAS substances that are detrimental to the environment and human health. As first choice, we strongly recommend the Presto Water Extinguishers. The extinguishing agent is pure deionised water, making it an excellent choice for a sustainable environment. The Presto Water Extinguisher is our primary extinguisher for most environments, e.g. all types of offices, schools, restaurants, hotels, etc.

The technology invested into the Presto Water Extinguishing radically reduces the water droplet size, which multiplies the cooling effect whilst creating an atmosphere for efficient extinguishing since oxygen is effectively displaced. This technology enables the extinguishing of Class A fires (fibrous materials), but also Class F fires (fat fires) and minor Class B fires (liquid fires) thanks to the efficient water mist. This is not possible with standard water-based fire extinguishers. Learn more about our Presto water fire extinguishers